COGO Chapter 6: Political Institutions and Governance

Vocabulary flashcards covering core institutional structures, regime types, and governance concepts from Chapter 6 of Comparative Government.

Bicameralism

A system of government in which the legislature is divided into two separate assemblies, chambers, or houses (e.g., House and Senate). It helps balance representation between population and regions, checks legislative haste, and provides institutional checks and balances.

Bureaucracies

Large, complex organizations composed of appointed officials that implement and execute public policy and government regulations. They are essential for carrying out state functions predictably and systematically, though often criticized for inefficiency and "red tape."

Cabinet

The body of senior government officials, typically heading major executive departments (ministries), who advise the chief executive and make key policy decisions. In parliamentary systems, the cabinet holds primary executive responsibility and leads legislative proposals.

Chief executives

Top elected or appointed leaders who hold executive power in a political system (e.g., Presidents, Prime Ministers, Chancellors). They set national policy agendas, represent the state internationally, and direct executive agencies.

Civil service

The permanent body of non-elected, professional public employees hired based on merit rather than political patronage. It ensures governmental continuity, expertise, and political neutrality across changing political administrations.

Federal systems

Political systems where sovereignty is constitutionally shared and divided between a central government and regional/subnational governments (e.g., states or provinces), allowing regional autonomy and diversity in policy while maintaining national unity.

Unitary systems

Systems where supreme political authority is concentrated in a single, central national government; local subnational units exercise only delegated powers. This promotes policy uniformity, efficiency, and centralized control across the entire state.

Judicial review

The power of courts to examine legislative enactments and executive actions to determine their compliance with the constitution, serving as a critical check on executive and legislative overreach and protecting constitutional rights.

Parliamentary regimes

Democratic political systems where the executive branch derives its legitimacy directly from and is accountable to the legislature (parliament). They feature fused legislative and executive powers, allowing faster policy passing but risking government collapse via votes of no confidence.

Semipresidential regimes

A system featuring both a directly elected President with significant power and a Prime Minister responsible to the legislature. It splits executive duties between foreign policy (President) and domestic affairs (Prime Minister).

Separation of power

The division of government authority among distinct branches (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent tyranny and ensure checks and balances so no single group or person consolidates total control.

Unicameral legislations

A political system with a single legislative house or assembly. It simplifies the lawmaking process, reduces gridlock, and is efficient for smaller, homogeneous, or unitary states.

Inclusive decision-making rules

Decision-making rules (such as requiring broad consensus, supermajorities, or coalitional approval) that protect minority rights and create stability, but increase transaction costs and can lead to legislative gridlock.

Descriptive representation

Assembly representation that mirrors the demographic characteristics of citizens (such as gender, ethnicity, and geography) to ensure diverse voices shape policy, though potentially prioritizing identity over substantive expertise.

Bureaucratic drift

A tendency where non-elected bureaucrats acquire discretionary policy power, which reduces democratic accountability to elected leaders and the electorate.